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Initiatives

What is an Initiative?

An initiative is a proposal to amend state statutes that is put forth by the citizens of the state through a petition effort. The initiative process is detailed in Article 2, Section 9, of the Constitution of 1963, which provides, in part:

Any law proposed by initiative petition shall be either enacted or rejected by the legislature without change or amendment within 40 session days from the time such petition is received by the legislature.

If any law proposed by such petition shall be enacted by the legislature it shall be subject to referendum, as hereinafter provided. If the law so proposed is not enacted by the legislature within the 40 days, the state officer authorized by law shall submit such proposed law to the people for approval or rejection at the next general election. The legislature may reject any measure so proposed by initiative petition and propose a different measure upon the same subject by a yea and nay vote upon separate roll calls, and in such event both measures shall be submitted by such state officer to the electors for approval or rejection at the next general election.

What is an Alternative Measure? (Not available for all Initiatives)

If the Legislature rejects a law proposed by initiative petition, the Legislature may
propose a different ("alternative") measure upon the same subject as provided in Article 2, Section 9,
of the Michigan Constitution of 1963. An alternative measure shall be labeled "Alternative Measure
No. ___ to a law proposed by Initiative Petition". An alternative measure shall not be considered for
a second reading in either house unless a law proposed by initiative petition has been rejected by a
house. An alternative measure shall require a majority vote of the members elected and serving in
each house for adoption, and the vote shall be by record roll call..

Measures proposed under Article 2, Section 9 of the Constitution of 1963:

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